Curated Guide | Perfect Day in DTLA

I’m a bit of a homebody in the evenings these days so I’ll probably order in, my go-tos are Holy Basil for Thai food

Danny Boy’s is the slice joint of my childhood dreams, reimagined to meet the exacting standards of today's discerning food-loving generation: Classic New York City style pizza, overstuffed hot hero sandwiches, and creative farm-fresh salads that aren’t an afterthought. All made with great ingredients, thoughtfully prepared with passion.

I usually start my day by grabbing an iced americano from Tilt Coffee Bar, this spot is a little slice of calm in the heart of Downtown. There’s tons of outdoor seating, it’s quiet, and the baristas are incredible. I usually run into a few friends when I’m there because it’s such a community hub. They also have some really good pastries for the days I want a snack.

A workout is a must, I’m partial to Pilates, especially Lagree 213. They accept drop in  classes and they’re a serious challenge.

Usually I’ve worked up a pretty decent appetite at this point, so for lunch I love going to Suehiro. This mom and pop shop has been operating in DTLA for 70 years and their Japanese breakfast is a must-get. I love their broiled salmon, it comes with a bunch of sides. It’s filling and healthy and a super reasonable plus the people that work there are the warmest it feels like eating at a friend’s house.

When the weather is nice (and it usually is) I try check out a few of my favorite stores. Kinokuniya at The Bloc is so fun, I usually spend way too much on pens and journaling supplies there, they also have a great Japanese author section.

If I’m looking for clothes, I love 925, a vintage clothing shop in the Fashion District with some of the coolest curation.

If I want trinkets, the Sanrio store in Little Tokyo is my go-to.

On my way home, I’ll stop at Good Clean Fun to grab a bottle of natural wine from their bottle shop, the owner Ian is the sweetest and has really good recommendations. He always finds the perfect thing for my mood.

I also always make a point to go into The Last Bookstore to browse, their used books are so reasonable it blows my mind.

By this point, my dog is usually ready for her evening walk, I’ll take her up towards City Hall because it gets a bit quieter there in the early evenings and she’s a scaredy cat. If I’m feeling social, I may stop for a quick glass of the wine on the way home at one of my favorite bars in the city, Kippered. This place feels like home away from home, the owners are always there and it’s so cozy it feels like I’m in a small town.

If I’m feeling a little sleepy, I might get a strawberry matcha latte from Saero, a Korean coffee shop in the Spring Street Arcade.